Attendite, popule meus, legem meam
Versus 1
Attendite, popule meus, legem meam; inclinate aurem vestram in verba oris mei.
Give ear, my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
Word Notes:
- attendo – attendere – attendi – attentum (3) – to give attention, listen.
- populus, -i m. (2) – people, nation.
- lex, legis f. (3) – law.
- inclino – inclinare – inclinavi – inclinatum (1) – to incline, bend.
- auris, -is f. (3) – ear.
- os, oris n. (3) – mouth.
Versus 2
Aperiam in parabolis os meum; loquar propositiones ab initio.
I will open my mouth in parables; I will speak of mysteries from the beginning.
Word Notes:
- aperio – aperire – aperui – apertum (4) – to open.
- parabola, -ae f. (1) – parable, comparison.
- loquor – loqui – locutus sum (dep. 3) – to speak.
- propositio, -onis f. (3) – setting forth, statement.
Versus 3
Quanta audivimus et cognovimus ea, et patres nostri narraverunt nobis.
The things we have heard and known, and which our fathers have told us.
Word Notes:
- audio – audire – audivi – auditum (4) – to hear.
- cognosco – cognoscere – cognovi – cognitum (3) – to know, learn.
- narro – narrare – narravi – narratum (1) – to tell, recount.
Versus 4
Non sunt occultata a filiis eorum, in generatione altera, narrantes laudes Domini et virtutes ejus, et mirabilia ejus quae fecit.
They have not been hidden from their children, but are told to the next generation — the praises of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.
Word Notes:
- occulto – occultare – occultavi – occultatum (1) – to hide, conceal.
- generatio, -onis f. (3) – generation.
- laus, laudis f. (3) – praise.
- virtus, -utis f. (3) – strength, power.
- mirabile, -is n. (3) – wonder.
Versus 5
Et suscitavit testimonium in Jacob, et legem posuit in Israel; quanta mandavit patribus nostris nota facere ea filiis suis.
He established a testimony in Jacob, and set a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to make known to their children.
Word Notes:
- suscito – suscitare – suscitavi – suscitatum (1) – to establish, raise up.
- testimonium, -ii n. (2) – testimony, witness.
- pono – ponere – posui – positum (3) – to place, set.
- mando – mandare – mandavi – mandatum (1) – to command.
Versus 6
Ut cognoscat generatio altera; filii qui nascentur et exsurgent, et narrabunt filiis suis.
That the next generation might know — the children yet to be born — and they in turn might rise up and tell their children.
Word Notes:
- nasco – nasci – natus sum (dep. 3) – to be born.
- exsurgo – exsurgere – exsurrexi – exsurrectum (3) – to rise up.
Versus 7
Ut ponant in Deo spem suam, et non obliviscantur operum Dei, et mandata ejus exquirant.
So that they might put their hope in God, not forget the works of God, and seek out his commandments.
Word Notes:
- spero – sperare – speravi – speratum (1) – to hope.
- obliviscor – oblivisci – oblitus sum (dep. 3) – to forget.
- exquiro – exquirere – exquisivi – exquisitum (3) – to seek diligently.
Versus 8
Ne fiant sicut patres eorum, generatio prava et exasperans, generatio quae non direxit cor suum, et non est creditus cum Deo spiritus ejus.
That they might not be like their fathers — a stubborn and rebellious generation — whose heart was not steadfast, and whose spirit was not faithful to God.
Word Notes:
- pravus, -a, -um (adj. 1/2) – crooked, depraved.
- exaspero – exasperare – exasperavi – exasperatum (1) – to provoke, embitter.
- dirigo – dirigere – direxi – directum (3) – to direct, set straight.
- credo – credere – credidi – creditum (3) – to believe, trust.
Versus 9
Filii Ephraim intendentes et mittentes arcum, conversi sunt in die belli.
The children of Ephraim, being armed and shooting with the bow, turned back in the day of battle.
Word Notes:
- intendo – intendere – intendi – intentum (3) – to stretch, aim.
- mitto – mittere – misi – missum (3) – to send, shoot.
- converto – convertere – converti – conversum (3) – to turn.
- bellum, -i n. (2) – war, battle.
Versus 10
Non custodierunt testamentum Dei, et in lege ejus noluerunt ambulare.
They did not keep the covenant of God, and they refused to walk in his law.
Word Notes:
- custodio – custodire – custodivi – custoditum (4) – to keep, guard.
- testamentum, -i n. (2) – covenant.
- ambulo – ambulare – ambulavi – ambulatum (1) – to walk.
Versus 11
Et obliti sunt benefactorum ejus, et mirabilium ejus quae ostendit eis.
They forgot his deeds and the wonders that he showed them.
Word Notes:
- benefactum, -i n. (2) – good deed, benefit.
- ostendo – ostendere – ostendi – ostensum (3) – to show.
Versus 12–13
Coram patribus eorum fecit mirabilia in terra Aegypti, in campo Taneos. Divisit mare et perduxit eos; et statuit aquas quasi in utre.
Before their fathers he did wonders in the land of Egypt, in the plain of Tanis. He divided the sea and led them through; he made the waters stand as in a bottle.
Word Notes:
- Aegyptus, -i f. (2) – Egypt.
- divido – dividere – divisi – divisum (3) – to divide.
- perduco – perducere – perduxi – perductum (3) – to lead through.
- statuo – statuere – statui – statutum (3) – to set up, establish.
- uter, utris m. (3) – leather bottle, skin.
Versus 14–16
Et deduxit eos in nube per diem, et tota nocte in illuminatione ignis. Scidit petram in eremo, et adaquavit eos velut in abysso multa. Et eduxit aquam de petra, et deduxit tamquam flumina aquas.
He led them with a cloud by day, and all the night with the light of fire. He split the rock in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly, as from the deep. He brought forth water out of the rock, and made the waters flow like rivers.
Word Notes:
- nubes, -is f. (3) – cloud.
- illumino – illuminare – illuminavi – illuminatum (1) – to light up.
- scindo – scindere – scidi – scissum (3) – to split, tear.
- eremus, -i f. (2) – desert, wilderness.
- adaquo – adaquare – adaquavi – adaquatum (1) – to give water to.
Versus 17–20
Et apposuerunt adhuc peccare ei; in iram excitaverunt Excelsum in inaquoso. Et tentaverunt Deum in cordibus suis, ut peterent escas animabus suis. Et male locuti sunt de Deo, dixerunt: Numquid poterit Deus parare mensam in deserto? Ecce percussit petram, et fluxerunt aquae, et torrentes inundaverunt; numquid et panem poterit dare, aut parare mensam populo suo?
Yet they continued to sin against him; they provoked the Most High in the dry land. They tempted God in their hearts by asking food for their souls. They spoke ill of God, saying: Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? Behold, he struck the rock, and waters gushed out and streams overflowed; but can he also give bread or provide meat for his people?
Word Notes:
- tento – tentare – tentavi – tentatum (1) – to try, test, tempt.
- esco, -ae f. (1) – food.
- mens(a), -ae f. (1) – table.
- percutio – percutere – percussi – percussum (3 mix) – to strike.
- fluo – fluere – fluxi – fluxum (3) – to flow.
Versus 21–24
Ideo audivit Dominus et distulit, et ignis accensus est in Jacob, et ira ascendit in Israel, quia non crediderunt Deo, nec speraverunt in salutem ejus. Et mandavit nubibus desuper, et januas caeli aperuit, et pluit illis manna ad manducandum, et panem caeli dedit eis.
Therefore the Lord heard and was angry; fire was kindled against Jacob and wrath rose against Israel, because they believed not in God nor trusted in his salvation. Yet he commanded the clouds above and opened the doors of heaven, and rained manna for them to eat and gave them the bread of heaven.
Word Notes:
- audio – audire – audivi – auditum (4) – to hear.
- distulo – distulere – distuli – dilatum (irr.) – to delay, postpone.
- pluo – pluere – plui (3) – to rain.
- manna, indecl. n. – manna.
- manduco – manducare – manducavi – manducatum (1) – to eat.
Versus 25–30
Panem angelorum manducavit homo; cibaria misit eis in abundantia. Transtulit Austrum de caelo, et induxit in virtute sua Africum. Et pluit super eos sicut pulverem carnes, et sicut arenam maris volatilia pennata. Et ceciderunt in medio castrorum eorum, circa tabernacula eorum. Et manducaverunt et saturati sunt nimis, et desiderium eorum attulit eis; non sunt fraudati a desiderio suo. Adhuc escae eorum erant in ore ipsorum, et ira Dei ascendit super eos.
Man ate the bread of angels; he sent them food in abundance. He caused the south wind to blow from heaven, and brought in the southwest wind by his power. He rained flesh upon them as dust, and winged birds as the sand of the sea. They fell in the midst of their camp, round about their tents. So they ate and were filled exceedingly; and he gave them their desire. They were not deprived of what they craved, but while the meat was yet in their mouths, the anger of God came upon them.
Word Notes:
- angelus, -i m. (2) – angel.
- cibaria, -orum n. pl. (2) – food, provisions.
- volatilis, -e (adj. 3) – winged.
- campus, -i m. (2) – field, open space.
- fraudo – fraudare – fraudavi – fraudatum (1) – to deprive.
(The following verses, 31–72, are presented without individual word notes.)
Versus 31–72 (Latin + English translation only)
31 Et occidit pingues eorum, et electos Israel impedivit.
He struck down their fattest men and smote the chosen of Israel.
32 In omnibus his peccaverunt adhuc, et non crediderunt mirabilibus ejus.
In all this they sinned still and believed not in his wonders.
33 Et defecerunt in vanitate dies eorum, et anni eorum cum festinatione.
So their days vanished in emptiness, and their years in haste.
34 Cum occideret eos, quaerebant eum, et revertebantur, et diluculo veniebant ad eum.
When he slew them, they sought him; they returned and came early to God.
35 Et rememorati sunt quia Deus adjutor est eorum, et Deus excelsus redemptor eorum est.
And they remembered that God was their helper, and the Most High their redeemer.
36 Et dilexerunt eum in ore suo, et lingua sua mentiti sunt ei.
And they loved him with their mouth, but lied to him with their tongue.
37 Cor autem eorum non erat rectum cum eo, nec fideles habiti sunt in testamento ejus.
But their heart was not right with him, nor were they faithful in his covenant.
38 Ipse autem est misericors, et propitius fiet peccatis eorum, et non disperdet eos.
But he, being merciful, forgave their sins and did not destroy them.
39 Recordatus est quia caro sunt; spiritus vadens et non rediens.
He remembered that they are flesh, a wind that passes and returns not.
40–43 Quoties exacerbaverunt eum in deserto, et contristaverunt eum in inaquoso!
How often they provoked him in the wilderness and grieved him in the desert! … They remembered not his hand, the day he delivered them from the enemy, how he wrought his signs in Egypt and his wonders in the field of Tanis.
44–51 He turned their rivers into blood, sent flies and frogs, gave their harvest to caterpillars, their labour to locusts; he slew their first-born in the tents of Ham.
52–55 But he led forth his people like sheep and guided them in the wilderness; he brought them to his holy land and cast out the nations before them.
56–61 Yet they tempted and provoked the Most High again; they turned aside and built high places, and God delivered his strength (the Ark) into captivity.
62–66 He gave his people over to the sword; but then the Lord awoke as one out of sleep, and smote his enemies from behind.
67–72 He rejected the tent of Joseph, chose not the tribe of Ephraim, but chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which he loved. And he chose David his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds to feed Jacob his people and Israel his inheritance; and he fed them with a faithful heart and guided them by skilful hands.
Summary Commentary
Psalm 77 (Vulgate 78 in Hebrew) is a national history in song — a liturgical retelling of Israel’s unfaithfulness and God’s enduring mercy. Its tone alternates between lament, narrative, and moral exhortation.
The psalmist calls the people to remember, not as nostalgia but as moral instruction: each generation must learn obedience from the failures of the last.
The climax lies in God’s faithfulness despite human waywardness. The psalm closes with the election of David — the symbol of righteous kingship and divine care. Memory here becomes theology: history is revelation.
Exercises
(a) English → Latin Translation
Translate:
- Give ear, my people, to my law.
- They forgot the works of God.
- He divided the sea and led them through.
- They ate and were filled exceedingly.
Key:
- Attendite, popule meus, legem meam.
- Obliti sunt operum Dei.
- Divisit mare et perduxit eos.
- Manducaverunt et saturati sunt nimis.
(b) Verb Form Practice
Give **
present, imperfect, future** of:
- attendo – attendere (3)
- obliviscor – oblivisci (dep. 3)
- divido – dividere (3)
- perduco – perducere (3)
- mando – mandare (1)
Model Answers:
- attendo / attendebam / attendam
- obliviscor / obliviscebar / obliviscar
- divido / dividebam / dividam
- perduco / perducebam / perducam
- mando / mandabam / mandabo
(c) Reflection Questions
- What purpose does the long historical narrative serve in worship?
- How does this psalm define the relationship between memory and faith?
- Why is the figure of David presented as the resolution of Israel’s failures?